On Both Sides - Dwayne Haywood

Coaching and playing softball is a "fun thing" for Dwayne Haywood field of Gloucester.

Haywood, a 1971 graduate of Gloucester High School,has been connected with slow-pitch softball since he was 18. He's now 36.

"I really love getting together with the guys and playing, especially in tournaments," says Haywood, a player/coach for Hooker Construction, a Class C team. "In the last two years, I've done more coaching than playing."

Before going to B.A.S.F. of Williamsburg, which makes conductive fibers, Haywood spent one year as an apprentice at NASA in Hampton.

"When I was there I worked on the space shuttles, the ones they currently use in the space program," says Haywood. He has spent the last 17 years with B.A.S.F.

Haywood's current softball team is 16-2 in the Gloucester Softball League and holds first place. "We've got a well-balanced team. The guys really play well together."

A week ago, the Hooker Construction team went to Richmond and came back with the Class C Regional Qualifier trophy with five straight victories. The team has a 50-9 record to date, according to Haywood. "We've done real well in most of the tournaments we've played in."

Haywood's team will be hosting the Gloucester C & D Equalizer Tournament on July 15 at Gloucester Intermediate School.